Ugh recession

[flyonthewall]

Just found out today that OH's job may be under threat, his company have just announced a re-structure. Over in the States, they have given people the choice of pay cuts, reducing their holidays, or facing redundancy if they don't agree to one or the other. He finds out Tuesday how it's going to affect the workers here.

This recession sucks....it's big companies and irresponsible governments that have got us here but as usual the decent hardworking folk that suffer.

On the plus side, this serves only to commit us more to finding a different way to live. We're not huge 'stuff buyers' any more, having gone through that phase in younger days, but it is a worry how the mortgage will get paid if OH is out of work or reduces his pay.

[pumpy]

Hi fotw, yes there is a recession on (alledgedly), but i think that a lot of companies are using it as a excuse to make cuts in running costs. (then watch 'em announce record profits). I don't wish to sound like a clever-dick, but i had a idea about this stuff some 14months ago, & decided to "drop-out". (my previous company has since made so many cuts, that it would be difficult to maintain any sort of comparable life-style). There is a lot to be said about the 'Self-Sufficient' life-style. If it is feasable for yourselves..... then give it some consideration. It's worked for us.

[Thomzo]

Sorry to hear that FOTW. I went through the same thing a couple of years ago. My employer was one of the first to be affected by the recession before it had officially started! We all knew something was going to happen, we just didn't know what or when. Funnily enough, it was the waiting and not knowing that was the worst. Once we knew what was going to happen, we could start planning which made life a little easier.

Good luck on Tuesday, it sounds as if you are being sensible anyway so you'll surely be fine.

Zoe

[JulieSherris]

Oh, FOTW - join the club!!

My hubby has seen off the first 3 rounds of redundancy calls since Xmas so far - he's had his hours cut to a 3 day week, his shift allowance has been dropped & his built overtime was the first to get dropped. All that means for us is that his pay has been cut by nearly half..... and that equates to our monthly mortgage plus a fair bit more on top....

He went in last Tuesday to ask for his voluntary redundancy - we were going to bite the bullet & see what we could do - but was told a very firm 'No'.
Apparently, the firm is going let them know whether or not they have a new line coming in on Wednesday - we shall see... in the meantime, get prepared as best as you can... grow lots, get some livestock, do whatever you can to get your head in the right place - that's my advice, anyway!!

Good luck, Julie.

[Helsbells]

Hi FOTW,
I know how you feel, my fiance was made redundent a few weeks ago, but it all turns out ok in the end, in fact with us it was for the best as he got a good reduncency package and now has a better paid jobn nearer to home.
Sadly for the people stilla this old work, they have just taken a 5% pay cut.

[invisiblepiper]

Yep - same boat here. From 30th of May - I'm starting B&B . to be honest I'm quite looking forward to it - but I know I'm lucky to have the space.
Oh is now on less than half pay rate and reduced hours - problem is - he hates 'gardening'
I think that we'll all end up happier though.

[thesunflowergal]

Finger crossed for you Hun.

As I have mentioned before my hubby was made redundant last August, and has been trying very hard to get something else. Sadly he did not get any form of redundancy package, so we are having to take the ex-employers to court for it . The court case keep getting pushed further and further away, due to a massive amount of employment tribuals, and a lack of judges.

Good luck and I will be thinking of you.

[invisiblepiper]

That's ridiculous - especially when 'bankers' can receive enough to pay 150 people a year!
The whole situation is obscene really.
Best wishes to you too!

[flyonthewall]

Thanks to all, and thinking of all of you who have been affected by the economic situation.

We will manage - that's what you do, isn't it - and frankly we are both heartily sick of the consumer lifestyle and treadmill of work to earn, to spend, to work more, to spend more, anyway, so perhaps if the worst happens, it could be an opportunity for us to try something new. But as with all change, it's also scary - the thought of our safety net I guess being pulled away! But then, it might motivate us more to live differently, as I would say we've one foot in the 'ish' camp and one foot still in the mainstream. The thing that keeps OH still a bit skeptical about it is his daughter - he doesn't want her to be 'different' or to have to go without, and she has been brought up for the last 10 years on Disney, plastic and junk food (something OH now regrets) and it will be a change for her, if dad can no longer buy her the latest thing etc. I think it will be better for her, but then I am a wicked stepmother so what do I know!

[invisiblepiper]

wicked my a**e! You sound really switched on!
Never knew anyone who died from lack of Disney!

[flyonthewall]

wicked my a**e! You sound really switched on!
Never knew anyone who died from lack of Disney!

My deep seated dislike of Disney is generally not very well understood

well it looks like we live to fight another day....pay cuts are going to be an option in November it seems, and will only be 2.5%, for employees on OH's salary level. However, NOT taking the pay cut won't be an automatic 'your job is at risk' thing, it's just that taking it will supposedly ensure job security if redundancies are considered in future, though they are not considering redundancies within the next 12 months in OH's division.

As OH said, if it does all go really pear shaped, people are going to lose their jobs anyway no matter whether they took the cut or not. I wonder if the big execs are taking big pay cuts in order to ensure the lower paid workforce doesn't suffer....somehow I doubt it.

But - what this has done is highlighted our need to make further changes to our lifestyle, so that's what we will focus on.

[snapdragon]

OH and I were chatting about the changes this morning - he's on half of what he was on two years ago, now working nearer home and 'blue collar'. I was made redundant (early retirement) last year and am now on a pension of less than a third of what i was earning. As we don't appear to be starving in the proverbial gutter we were trying to work out what we did with the rest - and came to the conclusion that we spent it at work, on lunches and clothes for work or getting to and from work.
So work costs money -

[Thomzo]

So work costs money

Yup, I quite agree. As a contractor, I often have periods between contracts (like now). It's amazing how cheaply you can live when you have time to shop properly, cook properly, grow your own etc. Funny thing is that I never seem to miss the things that I spend money on when I'm working.

I probably won't have a holiday this year but who cares when every day is a holiday at the moment.

I walk or cycle rather than rushing around in the car and am usually so shattered from all the exercise and fresh air that an early night is far more appealing than a night on the tiles. No stress means no comfort eating and no requirement for alcohol.

I'm currently doing all those little jobs that I've been putting off for ages and have time to use up the miculs (might come in useful laters) that I already have rather than dash out to the DIY store cos it's quicker than making my own.

Yup, working is very expensive.

Zoe

[flyonthewall]

work costing money! Now there's a thought.

I try to cycle to work as I begrudge the cost of parking but OH has no alternative but to drive as the public transport is a)rubbish near where he works, he's on an out of town estate and b) doesn't fit with his shift patterns. There is a canteen at my work, which serves quite unhealthy food but no facilities to make your own food, so you have no alternative but either to bring sandwiches/cold food, which we usually cannot fit in the tiny fridge, or go to the expensive sandwich shops nearby if you want something healthy and decent. In the old office we had a small kitchen with a microwave and I used to bring in leftovers or home made soup in Tupperware and heat it up. Then you have the problem of being too shattered from working to be able to cook anything decent, resorting to convenience food, no time to shop properly except cramming it all into weekends...the list goes on!